US Republican slams immigration bill

A top US Republican lawmaker slams the recent immigration bill saying the 'worst' message that can be conveyed while controlling illegal immigration is to 'reward' 12-20 million illegals.

worldUpdated: May 21, 2007 17:29 IST

PTI

A top US Republican lawmaker has slammed the recently unveiled immigration reform plan in the Senate, saying the 'worst' message that can be conveyed while controlling illegal immigration is to 'reward' 12-20 million illegals.

The Republican Congressman from California Brian Bilbray has called it 'absolutely absurd' the notion that borders can be controlled when illegals are being legalised.

"The worst thing you can do if you try to control illegal immigration is reward 12 to 20 million illegal aliens with citizenship and permanent residency. That's why the border patrol agents oppose this bill.... The big mistake was '86, where we announced amnesty.

"We told the world we're going to reward people for illegal immigration. And just as the secretary said, we're now lowering the number of people of crossing. By announcing this, you're going to have the next big wave," Bilbray said.

Pointing that the country has witnessed the largest influx of illegal immigration since the last amnesty, he said,"what makes them think that if you do the same thing, you're not going to get the same results? We need to do employer enforcement. That's not what they've been doing enough of, and that's where we need to crack down on".